Transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatation and with self-collecting means for water flooding emergency

ABSTRACT

Floating and towable multiple container apparatus, each container apparatus ( 18 ) attached to other container apparatus laterally and longitudinally. A Structural helical spring turns support continuous sealing wall ( 30 ) made of helix shaped plastic strip and consists of continuous multiple inflatable cavities ( 34 ) wrapped around and attached to spring turns. 
     A helical shape clamp ( 32 ) secures the sealing wall over the spring wire turns. A connection towing bar ( 44 ) connects the clamps over each wire spring turn together and provide cable connection means. 
     Two cap shape end covers ( 64 ) on both sides of the container with multiple external radial sealing members on its perimeter that engages the inner wall of the sealing wall ( 30 ) are pushed into the container apparatus, held with the helical spring wire turns that engage slots in the cap. Multiple water self-collecting one-way flow controls with float ( 86 ) allow water flow only into container with float held by inflated cavities in closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The main field of the invention is relating to transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatation and with self-collecting means for emergency water flooding hazard.

As known, overflowing, and flooded water keep causing enormous damage of tens of billions of dollars every year around the world. In many cases overflowing water causes loss of human and animal lives.

When flooded water rise and spill over the banks of the river, it significantly damages houses, industrial plants, public facilities and lands and causes loss of lives of people and animals that were trapped and drowned by the uncontrolled gushing cold water flow.

During recent years, climate changes caused flooding and overflow of many large rivers in US, South America, Africa, Asia and around the world and causing major damage and loss of lives in cities and towns along the river time and again. The field of the invention is emergency transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatation and with self-collecting means of large volume of water.

In addition the field of the invention includes configurations in which multiple container apparatus are attached together laterally and longitudinally for increased floatability and increased water carrying capability.

Another field of the invention is special means for self-collecting water from a river or reservoir into a large volume floatable container at remote locations where power is not available for operation of large capacity water pumps. Another field of the invention is self collecting and hauling of drinking or irrigation water from remote places to dry places and deserts around the world that need drinking water for their population and animals and for irrigation of their fields. Another field of the invention relates to low cost reusable container apparatus of drinking and irrigation water that is transported by towing from one remote location with of excess water to places where rain is rare and where water supply is critical to sustain human lives in existing cities and to extending the population to new towns.

Additional field of the invention relates to collecting oil spills in sea in container to prevent oil spill to beaches.

Another field of the invention is relating to transparent floatable marine container apparatus for large fish and sea animals. In addition, the field of the invention is relating to towable container apparatus filled with drinking water or seawater and used for transport of large fish and sea animals from one remote place to another.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art for container apparatus for transporting water or other fluids do not provide means for transportable on-site built container apparatus with controlled floatation and self collection of water and other fluids which limit its application to places where the container can be towed by ship or power boat.

SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART PATENTS

Pat. No. Title Issue date 5,355,819 Methods of transporting low density liquids Oct. 18, across oceans 1994 5,425,323 Equipment for recovery of liquid tank cargo from Jun. 20, a vessel 1995 6,675,734 Spiral formed flexible fluid containment vessel Jan. 13, 2004 6,718,896 Fabric structure for a flexible fluid containment Apr. 13, vessel 2004 6,718,900 Variable storage vessel and method Apr. 13, 2004 6,739,274 End portions for a flexible fluid containment May 25, vessel and a method of making the same 2004 6,832,571 Segment formed flexible fluid containment vessel Dec. 21, 2004 6,860,218 Flexible fluid containment vessel Mar. 1, 2005 7,024,748 Segment formed flexible fluid containment vessel Apr. 11, 2006 7,107,921 End portion for a flexible fluid containment vessel Sep. 19, and a method of making the same 2006 7,308,862 Coating for a flexible fluid containment vessel Dec. 18, and a method of 2007

1. The prior art does not provide means for self-collection of water into the container where high power pumps are not available, which limits its application, and prevents usage in river floods in remote places.

2. The prior art did not offer solution to the need for transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatation that can be transported by truck or by air transport to remote locations where ships or boats cannot reach.

3. The prior art did not provide means for controlled floatation of the container apparatus which is required for collection of the fluid when no pumping means are available in remote areas.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled-floatability and with self-collecting means for emergency situation of water flood in remote locations.

More particular objects of the invention is to provide a container apparatus with large volume and with controlled floatation that is quickly built on site during hours in remote geographical locations of flooded river or water reservoir or oil spill container.

More particular objects of the invention is to provide built on site container apparatus with controlled floatability and with water self-collecting means that is easily transportable in emergency or normal situations and when time limitation is critical.

More particular object of the invention is to provide multiple container apparatus configurations with lateral and longitudinal arrangement of multiple container apparatus that are attached to each other.

The multiple container apparatus configurations can be transported before assembly either by boat, or by truck, or by helicopter or parachute air type transportation to remote areas with no connection roads.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide low cost novelty means for an easily transportable built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatability and with self-collecting means for water over flooded river or large water reservoir in which the water is collected into the container from the river without the need of using special high power water pumping means.

Furthermore, the object of this invention is to provide lateral multiple-container apparatus configurations in which the main container is laterally supported by two or more containers that are structurally attached to the main container apparatus and provide additional controlled floatability means for increased fluid volume capacity within the main container and within the additional containers.

In addition, the object of this invention is to provide longitudinal multiple container apparatus configuration with towing means in which the multiple container apparatus configuration can be towed by boat along a river, water reservoir, or salted water sea.

Another objection of the invention is using the container apparatus as large transparent floatable aquarium means for large fish and sea animals of variable sizes or to transport or fish and sea animals of variable sizes from one remote place to another.

Furthermore, the object of this invention is to provide low cost and reusable lateral multiple-container apparatus configurations for handling large amount of water made with parts that are easily assembled and then disassembled for repeatable application at low operation cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as herein described, by a way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1, is a three dimensional view of the a single container apparatus configuration

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional view of the transparent container apparatus for live fish and sea animals

FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view of three container apparatus configuration

FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view of six container apparatus configuration

FIG. 5 is a three dimensional view of helical spring

FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view of special helical spring with two tapered ends

FIG. 7 is a side view of the helical spring and sealing wall

FIG. 8 is a side view of the helical spring, sealing wall and clamps

FIG. 9 is a side view of the helical spring, sealing wall, clamps and connection members

FIG. 10 is a three dimensional view of the end sealing cover

FIG. 11 is a side view through the sealing wall and water self collection apparatus

FIG. 11 is a side view through the sealing wall and float member

FIG. 12 is a side view through the sealing wall with float retention cavities

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatation and with self-collecting means for water flooding emergency is shown in three-dimensional view with one end cover removed.

Helical spring 20 made of high strength wire with large diameter spring turns of 5 meters provide the main mechanical structure of the container. End cover 28 is mechanically attached to said helical spring 20.

A continuous sealing wall strip 24 is wrapped around the helical spring and made of resilient and elastic plastic material with recycled plastic material. In FIG. 2 the sealing wall strip is made of transparent plastic material that allow sun rays to penetrate through the container apparatus wall making the container used as aquarium for large fish and sea animals.

The container apparatus configuration of FIG. 3 consists of three parallel container apparatus configuration that are laterally connected along their side to each other with high strength cable means is shown in three-dimensional view.

Towing means 26 for towing the container apparatus configuration is attached to the end cover.

Referring to FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of six-container apparatus configuration is shown in three-dimensional view. In multiple container apparatus configuration each container apparatus is structurally attached to other similar container apparatus with either laterally to form multi-container apparatus configuration in which the amount of collected fluid that can be towed as one unit over river, sea or ocean is multiplied.

The container apparatus provides an emergency transportable and built on-site container apparatus with controlled floatation and with self-collecting means for large volume of water such as floodwater in rivers and water reservoirs.

The container apparatus is capable of self-collecting water without pump from river and water reservoir and transporting drinking, irrigation water, flood water, oil spill or other fluids from its building site location to desert and dry areas by towing means.

The container apparatus with controlled floatation and with self-collecting means for large volume of water is comprised of the largest diameter and longest helical steel wire spring that is practically transportable in compressed mode by land, air or naval transportation to the water flooded site.

Referring to FIG. 5, a preferred embodiment of the helical spring 20 consists of multiple high strength wire turns that provide the structural support to the container wall is shown in three-dimensional view

Referring to FIG. 6, a preferred embodiment of special helical spring with two tapered helical springs 22 at the two ends is presented. The reduced diameter at the ends allow reduction of the volume of the helical spring during transportation as the spring wire turns with smaller size diameter are compressed into the larger wire turn diameter for larger and longer volume of the container apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 7, a preferred embodiment of continuous helix shaped resilient plastic strip is shown in side view. The continuous helical strip is molded from soft and strong plastic material such as Polyethylene while other similar recycled materials are also available for the application.

The continuous helix shaped sealing wall 30 with continuous water sealed cross-section that consists of continuous multiple inflatable cavities 34 is creating inner sealed wall and outer wall of the container apparatus that is wrapped around and attached to the helical spring turns 20 on left side 46 and right side 48 of the sealing wall.

When inflated with compressed air, the volume of the continuous strip cavities 34 expands and increases the volume of the sealing wall of the container apparatus and amplifies its floatability that is controlled by air pressure.

When collecting water into the container apparatus, the air pressure is low to keep the container apparatus at low level. When the container apparatus is filled with water, the air pressure increased and the container floats at higher level as needed.

The helix shaped band is wrapped between every spring wire turn and the adjacent wire turn of the helical spring while right lateral side of the band is connected to its left lateral side around the helical spring wire turn.

Referring to FIG. 8, a preferred embodiment of continuous helix shaped strip and helical spring wire turns is shown in side view.

Clamp 32 with helix shape structural secures together the sealing wall outward extended cross sections on right end and 48 and on left end 46 over the spring wire turn 20.

In addition, helical shaped extension on the sealing wall inner side on left cross section 40 engages within helix shaped cavity in the right cross section side 38 to secure tightness of the sealing wall on both inner and outer sides.

Referring to FIG. 9, a preferred embodiment of continuous helix shaped strip attached with clamps around helical spring wire turns is shown in side view.

A connection structural bar 44 with external cable connection and towing handle 54 connects the clamp 32 over each wire spring turn 20 with the clamp over the adjacent spring wire turn to create strong construction capable of connecting to other container and support it during towing of the container apparatus.

A continuous helix shaped flexible sealing means 56 with round cross section protrusion in the left side creates a water tight seal with right cavity 60 in the right cross sectional side of the sealing wall.

Referring to FIG. 10, a preferred embodiment of end sealing cover configuration is shown in three-dimensional view. The end covers 64 have cap shape on both sides of the container apparatus are equipped with structural towing means 28. The end covers are pushed into the container apparatus from both side and held axially with the helical spring wire turns 20 that engage helix shaped slots 62 in the cylindrical cap. The end cap 64 consists of cylindrical cap shape with sealed vertical wall 68 and with multiple external radial sealing 70 on its perimeter, which engages the inner wall of the sealing wall.

The multiple water self-collecting apparatus allows water to flow into the container apparatus while preventing water flow or leak away from the container apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 11, a preferred embodiment of continuous helix shaped strip with float retention cavities of the self-collection apparatus is shown in side view. Each water self-collecting apparatus consists of one-way flow control means with a tapered hole 76 through the sealing wall 30 of the container apparatus 18 that consists of lower mechanical stop 78 with radial cavities 80 that allows maximum flow and tapered diameter with reduced diameter and sealing edge 84 at the external side.

A ball shaped floating member 86 is moving axially within the hole 76 from engaging the lower mechanical stop to allow maximum flow into the container and sealing against the sealing edge at the external side.

Referring to FIG. 12, a preferred embodiment of continuous helix shaped strip with float retention cavities of the self-collection apparatus is shown in side view. The tapered hole 76 allows the ball type float 86 to move up under water pressure and gravitational pressure and create seal against the sealing edge 84. When the container 18 is filled with water to the required level, the float retention cavities are pressurized with compressed air and their volume increase as they push the float up against the sealing edge aiming at locking and retain the float at sealed position that prevents water leakage from the container during towing. When the water level inside the container builds up, the floating means is pushed by the water pressure to move up the tapered hole into reduced diameter to create seal with the hole thus preventing leakage of water out of the container. Helical compression spring between the floating means and the sealing edge at the external side keeps the floating ball at the inner side to allow maximum flow rate into the container. The spring forced is designed to control the water pressure that will overcome the spring force and push the floating means move up an engage the sealing edge to close the water leakage from the container. Initially the container sinks into the water under its own weight with minimum inflating pressure in the sealing wall cavities.

The floating member is in the valve open position under the spring force and the flood water flows into the container apparatus.

As the volume of water inside the container increases, the water pressure inside the container increases and the float pushes against the return spring to create seal with sealing edge.

After the container apparatus is filled to a certain level, the cavities in the sealing wall are inflated from compressed air source to increase floatability and elevating the container apparatus upwards with the water self-collecting apparatus keeping the water sealed inside the container.

When attached to other container apparatus in the lateral direction or on top of each other, the floatation of the adjacent container apparatus affects the floatation of the other containers.

The water can be pumped from one container apparatus to another for maximum and optimized water capacity that can be towed together along the river by towing boat or ship. 

1) a fluid container apparatus with fluid self-collecting means comprises: A. a resilient member means made of continuous elastic wire formed into multi turns in the shape of elongated helix whereby said helix wire turns can be compressed as helical spring to reduce volume during transportation and they provide construal support of the container apparatus wall and retaining its end covers and A. sealing wall in the shape of continuous helix strip with flexible cross section that is wrapped between said wire turns with its lateral cross sectional right end attached to the left end across each said wire turn and encapsulate said wire turns and with multiple continuous elastic wall cavities whereby said sealing wall strip creating continuous sealed wall wrapped and encapsulating said helical spring with continuous sealable inner wall and extended external connection section on right and left end for external clamp attachment and B. clamping means in the shape of helix that mechanically attach together said cross sectional extended section on right end and left end of said sealing wall encapsulating said wire turn whereby clamping together said wall lateral right and left ends to said wire turn to form sealed mechanical structural container apparatus and C. mechanical connecting member means that connects between each said clamping means encapsulating each wire turn to the adjacent clamping means whereby said connecting members provide structural towing means and D. end cover sealing members located within both ends of said sealing wall strip with helix shaped grove that is engaged with said wire turns and with resilient sealing means on its external boundary whereby said sealing end member creates sealing surface with mating inner sealing wall strip and E. multiple one-way flow control means each comprising of floating member movable within a hole through said sealing wall strip whereby allowing fluid flow into said container apparatus to fill said container apparatus while under fluid force said floating member is moving outward against sealing edge to create seal that prevent fluid leaking out of said container apparatus means. 2) a fluid container apparatus with controlled floatation and with fluid self-collecting means comprises: B. a resilient member means made of continuous elastic wire formed into elongated helix shaped wire turns whereby said helix wire turns can be compressed as helical spring to reduce volume during transportation and they provide construal support of the container apparatus wall and retaining its end covers and C. sealing wall in the shape of continuous helix strip with flexible cross section that is wrapped between said wire turns with its lateral cross sectional right end attached to the left end across each said wire turn and encapsulate said wire turns and with multiple continuous elastic wall cavities whereby said sealing wall strip creating continuous sealed wall wrapped and encapsulating said helical spring with continuous sealable inner wall and said continuous cavities inflated with air pressure to control the volume of said sealing wall to control floatation and D. clamping means in the shape of helix that mechanically attach together said cross sectional extended section on right end and left end of said sealing wall encapsulating said wire turn whereby clamping together said wall lateral right and left ends to said wire turn to form sealed mechanical structural container apparatus and E. mechanical connecting member means that connects between each said clamping means encapsulating each wire turn to the adjacent clamping means whereby said connecting members provide structural towing means and F. end cover sealing members located within both ends of said sealing wall strip with helix shaped grove that is engaged with said wire turns and with resilient sealing means on its external boundary whereby said sealing end member creates sealing surface with mating inner sealing wall strip and G. multiple one-way flow control means each comprising of floating member movable within a hole through said sealing wall strip whereby allowing fluid flow into said container apparatus to fill said container apparatus while under fluid force said floating member is moving outward against sealing edge to create seal that prevent fluid leaking out of said container apparatus means. 3) a fluid container apparatus for living animals with fluid self-collecting and with controlled floatation means comprises: A. a resilient member means made of continuous elastic wire formed into elongated helix shaped wire turns whereby said helix wire turns can be compressed as helical spring to reduce volume during transportation and they provide construal support of the container apparatus wall and retaining its end covers and B. sealing wall in the shape of continuous helix strip with transparent and flexible cross section that is wrapped between said wire turns with its lateral cross sectional right end attached to the left end across each said wire turn and encapsulate said wire turns and with multiple continuous elastic wall cavities whereby said sealing wall strip creating continuous sealed wall wrapped and encapsulating said helical spring with continuous sealable inner and the transparent wall allow sunshine light through said sealing wall for living fish and C. clamping means in the shape of helix that mechanically attach together said cross sectional extended section on right end and left end of said sealing wall encapsulating said wire turn whereby clamping together said wall lateral right and left ends to said wire turn to form sealed mechanical structural container apparatus and D. mechanical connecting member means that connects between each said clamping means encapsulating each wire turn to the adjacent clamping means whereby said connecting members provide structural towing means and E. end cover sealing members located within both ends of said sealing wall strip with helix shaped grove that is engaged with said wire turns and with resilient sealing means on its external boundary whereby said sealing end member creates sealing surface with mating inner sealing wall strip and F. multiple one-way flow control means each comprising of floating member movable within a hole through said sealing wall strip whereby allowing fluid flow into said container apparatus to fill said container apparatus while under fluid force said floating member is moving outward against sealing edge to create seal that prevent fluid leaking out of said container apparatus means. 4) The container apparatus means of claim 2 wherein said one-way flow control means including a float means movable within said variable diameter hole in said containing means and creating sealing edge means with said variable diameter hole whereby fluid within said container is sealed and prevented from flowing out of said container. 5) The container apparatus means of claim 2 where said one-way flow control means including pressure cavities means that expands when pressurized with air whereby pushing the cavity wall against said floating means to retain it in sealed position thus preventing water leakage from said container apparatus. 6) The container apparatus means of claim 2 where said one-way flow control means including resilient member of which one end engages said floating means and other end supported on sealing wall hole whereby said resilient spring applies controlled force on said floating means to keep said floating means in full flow into said container means and allow floating means move to seal the hole when water pressure increase to pre-determined level. 